Labeling machine



Feb. 25, 1969 BRAGGA, JR I 3,429,764

LABELING MACHINE Filed April 19. 1965 Sheet INVENTOR.

JOSEPH BRAGGA, JR.

ATTORNEY. v

'J. BRAGGA, JR

LABELING MACHINE Feb. 2 5, 1969 Sheet -2 of 4 Filed April 19. 1965 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH BRAGGA, JR.

FIG. 2.

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 25, 1969 J. BBBB GA, JR 3,429,764

LABELING MMMMMMM United States Patent 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for applying pressure-sensitive labels to envelopes comprising: an envelope supply hopper; means for maintaining the envelopes in the supply hopper generally perpendicular to the plane of the supply hopper; a first system of vertically-arranged rolls for advancing the envelopes in a certain path comprising: a feed roll rotating in the supply hopper for withdrawing envelopes in seriatim from the supply hopper; and a main drive roll cooperating with a plurality of auxiliary rolls for advancing envelopes so withdrawn from the supply hopper to a registration station; a second system of vertically-arranged rolls for supporting a supply of a transparent carrier having spaced pressure sensitive labels removably mounted thereon and for guiding the carrier through a certain path transversely of the path of the envelopes and around a sharp corner to cause the labels to peel off of the carrier and be advanced thereby into adhering engagement with an envelope at the registration station; a guide finger for guiding the so advanced label onto the envelope; first drive means for effecting rotation of the rolls of the first system of rolls; second drive means for effecting rotation of the rolls of the second system of rolls; means for projecting a beam of light onto the labels and through the carrier between the labels as the carrier advances; and photoelectric control means actuated by the beam of light passing through the carrier between the labels for stopping the second drive means and the carrier.

My invention relates to apparatus for dispensing pressure sensitive adhesive labels and more particularly to apparatus for feeding envelopes and applying pressure sensitive adhesive labels thereto.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for feeding envelopes and applying pressure sensitive adhesive labels thereto in predetermined positions thereon.

An apparatus illustrating certain features of the invention may include means for advancing envelopes in a certain path and means for supporting a supply of a transparent carrier having spaced pressure sensitive adhesive labels removably mounted thereon and for guiding the carrier through a certain path transversely of the first path and around a sharp corner to cause the labels to peel off of the carrier and be advanced thereby into adhering engagement with an envelope in its path. A motor drives rolls which advance the carrier and means are provided for projecting a beam of light onto the labels and through the carrier between the labels as the carrier advances and photo-electric control means are actuated by the beam of light passing through the carrier between the labels for stopping the motor drive and the carrier.

These and other objects will be more readily apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational representation of labeling apparatus embodying my invention;

3,429,764 Patented Feb. 25, 1969 FIG. 2 is a front elevational representation of the labeling apparatus of FIG. 1 as viewed from the left thereof;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary and part sectional representation of the label feed control means of the apparatus of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary and part sectional representation of the envelope feed means of the apparatus of the invention.

The apparatus hereof is designed to automatically dispense labels 10 and apply them onto portions of envelopes E as the envelopes are conveyed along a predetermined path. The labels have a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive 12 (FIG. 2) on one face thereof and are removably secured thereby to a flexible transparent or translucent carrier 14 with spaces 16 therebetween. The labels may be readily removed from the carrier by passing the carrier around a relatively sharp corner, causing the label to progressively peel or separate therefrom.

An envelope supply hopper generally indicated by 20 is centrally disposed between a pair of spaced parallel and upright plates 22 and 24 (FIG. 2) which constitute the side walls of the apparatus, the supply hopper being fixed to the plates adjacent the upper ends of the latter.

Supply hopper 20 includes an inclined bottom wall 26, spaced parallel side walls 28 connected to the bottom wall and an inclined front wall 30 connected to the forward ends of the side walls 28 and extending laterally outwardly therefrom to the upright plates 22 and 24 to which they are attached by any suitable means.

Bottom wall 26 of hopper 20 includes upwardly from front to rear and front wall 30 is perpendicular thereto.

An envelope feed control means generally indicated by 32 is positioned at the forward end of supply hopper 20 and includes a base 34 fixed to front wall 30 and to plates 22 and 24, and an adjustment bracket 36 slidably disposed upon an upright post 38 extending vertically-upwardly from base 34.

Adjustment bracket 36 carries a pair of spaced parallel and outwardly extending arms 40 which overlie supply hopper 20 and are angularly disposed so as normally to extend in generally parallel relation to the hopper.

An adjustment knob 42 is threaded in bracket 36 and has an inner end adapted to bear against post 38 whereby the bracket may be locked in any desired position of vertical adjustment relative to post 38.

In use, a supply of envelopes E is placed in the hopper and bracket 36 is so positioned upon post 38 that the arms 40 rest upon the upper edges of the envelopes whereby the lower edges of the latter are urged toward the point of jointure between bottom wall 26 and front wall 30 of the hopper.

An envelope feed roll 43 is fixedly secured centrally of a rotatable shaft 44 journalled at its opposite ends in plates 22 and 24.

Feed roll 43 is so positioned relative to supply hopper 20 that a portion of the roll periphery extends into suitable openings or slots 46 and 48 provided in front wall 30 and bottom wall 26 respectively of the supply hopper, so as to contact the lower edge of the forwardmost envelope in the supply hopper.

A pair of spaced parallel envelope guides 50 depend from bottom wall 26 and are fixed upon rods 52 which extend between plates 22 and 24.

The guides, best seen in FIG. 4, are each identical, and include an inclined upper flange 54 fixed to bottom wall 26 of the hopper and terminating at. its forward end slightly forwardly of slot 48 in bottom wall 26, for purposes to appear.

A vertically-extending forward flange 56 is fixed to the forward edge of the guide and has a bevelled upper edge 58 disposed immediately below front wall of the hopper.

Each guide is provided with a vertically extending slot immediately adjacent forward flange 56, this slot communicating at its upper end with the opening 48 in bottom wall 26 of the hopper.

The periphery of feed roll 43 is in close running relationship to the forward edge of upper flange 54 of each guide, whereby upon rotation of the roll the lower edge of an envelope may be gripped between the roll and the flange and drawn downwardly from the hopper and into the slots 60 in the guides.

Continued rotation of envelope feed roll 43 passes the envelope downwardly into the nips defined by two pairs of close running gripper rolls 62 and 64, the gripper rolls being rotatably mounted upon and spaced along shafts 66 and 68 respectively fixed at their opposite ends in the plates 22 and 24.

Gripper rolls 62 and 64 of the two pair thereof form part of a conveyor system for conveying an envelope to a registration station where a label is applied thereto, as will appear.

The above-named conveyor system includes a pair of endless belts 70, each entrained around the rolls 64 and additionally passing around an envelope pressure roll 72, a guide pulley 74 and a guide pulley 76, said rolls and pulleys being rotatably mounted upon shafts 78, 80 and 82 respectively fixed at their opposite ends in plates 22 and 24.

One run of each belt follows and embraces a portion of the periphery of a main drive roll 84 fixed centrally of a shaft 86 journalled at its opposite ends in plates 22 and 24. Main drive roll 84 is disposed below and forwardly of gripper rolls 62 and 64, and cooperates with envelope pressure rolls 72 which are disposed at the rear side of roll 84 and with a label pressure roll which is disposed between pulleys 74 on on shaft at the front side of roll 84.

Rotation of main drive roll 84 drives belts 70 wherefore envelopes are successively drawn from between rolls 62 and 64 and between belts 70 and roll 84 and passed around a portion of roll 84 to the roll 75.

Means is provided for driving main drive roll 84 and envelope feed roll 43 and comprises a motor (not shown) linked to a shaft 88 (FIG. 2) having one end rotatably mounted in and passing through plate 22. A pulley 90 is fixed to the inner end of shaft 88 and an aligned pulley 92 is fixed to main drive roll shaft 86, the pulleys 90 and 92 having an endless belt 94 entrained therearound, wherefore rotation of shaft 88 sets up a corresponding rotation of shaft 86.

A pulley 96 is fixed to the opposite end of shaft 86 and an aligned pulley 98 is fixed to one end of the envelope feed roll shaft 44, the pulleys 96 and 98 having an endless belt 100 entrained therearound, wherefore rotation of shaft 86 sets up a corresponding rotation of shaft 44.

Label feeding means is provided for feeding the labels 10 to a point bet-ween pressure roll 75 and an envelope at the forward side of main drive roll 84 and includes an upright plate 102 disposed immediately below the forward side of roll 84 and fixed at its opposite ends to plates 22 and 24.

A pair of spaced vertically-disposed guides 104 are adjustably positioned on the outer planar face of plate 102 and are movable axially along a rod 106 extending therebetween, and may be locked in desired position relative to said rod as by set screws 108.

Guides 104 are grooved or slotted as at 110 to permit the passage of a length of carrier 14 therebetween with the lower surface of the carrier bearing on plate 102.

Disposed upwardly of guides 104 on the forward face of plate 102 is a photoelectric cell 112 fixed to a cross rod 114 attached to plate 102 by screws or bolts 116.

Aligned with photoelectric cell 112, but disposed on the opposite or rear face of plate 102 is a light source 118 for projecting a beam of light through a slot 120 (FIG. 3) in the plate 102.

Springs 122 sleeved upon the inner ends of screws 116 and retained thereon by nuts 124 mount cross rod 114 resiliently to plate 102.

The carrier 14, with the labels 10 releasably fixed to its outer face passes between and below the guides 104 and below the photoelectric cell 112, with the carrier then passing over the upper edge of plate 102 and downwardly between a pair of cooperating feed rolls 126 and 128 while the labels are stripped from the carrier and pass vertically upwardly between roll 75 and an envelope E at the forward side of main drive roll 84.

Feed rolls 126 and 128 are fixed to shafts 130 and 132 respectively, the shaft 132 being rotatably mounted relative to a pair of brackets 134 extending rearwardly from plate 102, and shaft 130 being journalled in plates 22 and 24 at its opposite ends and additionally being linked to a suitable source of rotative power such as a motor (not shown).

Brackets 134 are pivoted upon a shaft 136 extending therebetween with the ends of the brackets adjacent plate 102 being disposed between adjustable limit blocks 138 and 140 whereby the brackets may be swung upon the shaft 136 separate rolls 126'and 128.

A guide finger 142 is adjustably mounted in a slot 144 (FIG. 3) extending thorugh a shaft 146 journalled at its opposite ends in plates 22 and 24. A set screw 148 threaded in shaft 146 is adapted to bear against finger 142 to fix the latter relative to the shaft.

Finger 142 has an outer end offset as'at 150 to provide a bearing surface adapted to ride on an envelope passing therebelow on main drive roll 84, with the envelope upon contact with offset 150 actuating lever 142 to start a label.

A label 10 being fed upwardly from plate 102 passes under the offset 150 to be guided onto the envelope.

The photoelectric cell 112 and light source 118 are connected by leads 152 and 154 respectively to a suitable control panel (not shown) which is in turn connected to the motors which drive the main drive roll 84 and the feed rolls 126 and 12s.

Light passing through the carrier at the spaces 16 between the labels 10 is picked up by the photoelectric cell which sends an impulse to the control panel to stop rotation of the feed rolls 126 and 128.

Rotation of the rolls 126 and 128 is stopped long enough for a label to be applied to an envelope and the next following envelope then sets up rotation of the rolls once again to feed the carrier and another label upwardly at which time the procedure is repeated.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for applying pressure-sensitive labels to envelopes comprising:

(a) an envelope supply hopper;

(b) means for maintaining the envelopes in the supply hopper generally perpendicular to the plane of the supply hopper;

(c) a first system of vertically-arranged rolls for advancing the envelopes in a certain path comprising:

( 1) a feed roll rotating in the supply hopper for withdrawing envelopes in seriatin from the supply hopper; and

(2) a main drive roll cooperating with a plurality of auxiliary rolls for advancing envelopes so withdrawn from the supply hopper to a regis-tra tion station;

(d) a second system of vertically-arranged rolls for supporting a supply of a transparent carrier having spaced pressure sensitive labels removably mounted thereon and for guiding the carrier through a certain path transversely of the path of the envelopes and around a sharp corner to cause the labels to peel off of the carrier and be advanced thereby into adhering 5 6 engagement with an envelope at the registration sta- References Cited tion' (e) a guide finger for guiding the so advanced label U P SIATES ATENTS Onto the envelope; 1,133,326 9/191) McDade 156-442 XR (f) first drive means for efifecting rotation of the rolls 5 2,920,780 1/1960 fiausqhlld et 156*542 XR of the first system of rolls; 3,010,864 11/1961 Schne1der et al. 156363 XR (g) second drive means for effecting rotation of the 312491483 5/1966 Kaufiman ct 155-571 XR rolls of the second s stem of rolls; (h) means for projecting a beam of light onto the EARL BERGERTPI'I'WW Examiner labels and through the carrier between the labels H) G, W. MOXON,Assista/1t Examiner. as the carrier advances; and (i) photo-electric control means actuated by the beam US. Cl. X.R.

of light passing through the carrier between the labels 156542 for stopping the second drive means and the carrier. 

